Optical: systems and elements – Mirror – Plural mirrors or reflecting surfaces
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-03
2004-09-21
Shafer, Ricky D. (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Mirror
Plural mirrors or reflecting surfaces
C359S851000, C359S872000, C359S876000, C359S877000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06793355
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to mirror balls. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to an internally motorised mirror ball having a pair of counter-rotating reflective hemispheres separated by a rotating equator.
Known mirror balls are suspended from an overhead structure such as the ceiling joist and rotate due to air moving around the room. Other known mirror balls are mounted upon a vertical motor-driven shaft.
The above mirror balls reflect standard patterns of light providing spots that moves about the walls in a known and expected manner.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an internally motorised mirror ball having counter-moving reflective surfaces to provide a more interesting lighting effect.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
There is disclosed herein a mirror ball comprising:
a shaft having a static drive transmission member attached thereto or formed integrally therewith,
a motor attached directly or indirectly to the shaft,
a spindle co-linear with the shaft and having a radially extending arm having a rotating drive transmission member attached thereto and engaging with the static drive transmission member,
a drive train transmitting output of the motor to cause rotation of the spindle with respect to the shaft to thereby cause rotation of the spindle and moving interaction between the rotating drive transmission member and the static drive transmission member, and
a shell fixed to the rotating drive transmission member and having reflective surfaces thereon.
Preferably the static drive transmission member is a bevel gear and the rotating drive transmission member is a bevel gear in mesh with the static drive transmission member.
Preferably a further arm extends radially from the spindle in a direction opposite to that of the radially extending arm and has a counter-rotating drive transmission member attached thereto and engaging with the static drive transmission member, and the mirror ball further comprises another shell having reflective surfaces thereon and fixed to the counter-rotating drive transmission member.
Preferably the shells are substantially hemispherical and in combination substantially spherical.
Preferably there is an equatorial ring attached to the spindle in between the shells.
Preferably the equatorial ring has reflective surfaces thereon.
Preferably the drive train comprises a spindle gear attached to or formed integrally with the spindle and a reduction gearbox transmitting output of the motor to the spindle gear.
Preferably the shaft extends from a base and supports the mirror ball.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1214863 (1917-02-01), Woeste
patent: 1541687 (1925-06-01), Cory
patent: 1655468 (1928-01-01), Lewis
patent: 1658455 (1928-02-01), Metzech et al.
patent: 1747556 (1930-02-01), Price
patent: 4250537 (1981-02-01), Roegner et al.
patent: 4491125 (1985-01-01), Sainsbury
patent: 5035623 (1991-07-01), Coudurser et al.
patent: 5079645 (1992-01-01), Ritter
patent: 5324224 (1994-06-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 2681528 (1993-03-01), None
patent: 2350418 (2000-11-01), None
Alix Yale & Ristas, LLP
Green Logic Associates Limited
Shafer Ricky D.
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